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Definition of guilt by association in English:

guilt by association

phrase

Guilt ascribed to someone not because of any evidence but because of their association with an offender.

‘Locke says it was a difficult decision - ‘in this province, a lot of people have guilt by association,’ he explains - but he decided to accept the offer.’

‘We were already at war with terrorism, of course, a war that has led to preventive detention, guilt by association, ethnic profiling and spying without criminal suspicion.’

‘‘Associates with known gang members’ (who could, of course, be relatives or neighbors) is clearly guilt by association.’

‘It is a useful tactic to lump liberals (in the classic sense i.e. libertarians), fascists, and conservatives in the same camp so opponents can be misrepresented and dismissed through guilt by association.’

‘Be yourself from the get-go so popular by association doesn't turn into guilt by association.’

‘But I do regret guilt by association in politics.’

‘Instead, the administration continues to defend its prerogative to detain foreign nationals without due process and to expel them solely on the basis of political speech or guilt by association.’

‘And while he did not actually put the braces on my teeth or do the extracting of the wisdom teeth - he recommended both and has a major case of guilt by association.’

‘Now, I could respond to this by merely saying that the charge constitutes guilt by association - a defense that always works when applied to a liberal.’

‘But that argument proves too much, for it would authorize guilt by association whenever any organization engages in some illegal activity.’